BA Slashes Price of First-class Plane Tickets by 40 Percent

British Airways (BA), Europe´s second-largest airline, is trumpeting a major discount offer for long-haul flights. BA is making this move in an effort to bring more business-class passengers to take first-class seats, a demand that usually dwindles during summertime vacations.

Beginning on June 24, the offer will be legally binding for flights scheduled between August 15 and 31 to some 28 destinations around the world, including Nairobi, Cape City (South Africa) and New York.

"The market of tourists traveling in first-class is growing steadily, so this summer we want to give them exceptional airfares for flights to our most coveted long-haul destinations," said Tiffany Hall, BA´s chief of sales and marketing.

British Airways was the first European carrier to announce pricier plane tickets as a result of recent spikes in oil prices.

BA made the announcement a week after reporting that the company´s gross benefits were up 70 percent (335 million euros) during the twelve-month period that finished on March 31.